Secondary Articulation

Overview

Secondary articulation is a phonetic phenomenon where a primary articulation of a consonant or vowel is modified by a secondary place or manner of articulation. This results in a distinct sound quality that differs from the primary articulation alone.

Key Concepts

The primary articulation is the main constriction or closure made in the vocal tract to produce a sound. A secondary articulation involves an additional, simultaneous constriction or modification, often made by a different part of the tongue or lips.

• Secondary Place of Articulation: A secondary point of constriction, such as palatalization or labialization.
• Secondary Manner of Articulation: A secondary modification, like pharyngealization.

Deep Dive

Common types of secondary articulation include:

• Palatalization: Produced with the body of the tongue raised towards the hard palate, like the /j/ sound in ‘yes’. This often affects vowels, giving them a ‘flatter’ or ‘sharper’ quality.
• Labialization: Produced with rounded lips, like the /w/ sound in ‘wet’. This can affect vowels, making them more rounded.
• Velarization: Produced with the back of the tongue raised towards the velum, often heard in ‘dark L’ sounds.
• Pharyngealization: Produced with a constriction in the pharynx.

These secondary articulations are simultaneous with the primary one, creating a complex sound.

Applications

Understanding secondary articulation is crucial in:

• Phonetics and Phonology: Analyzing and describing speech sounds accurately.
• Speech Therapy: Identifying and correcting pronunciation errors.
• Linguistics: Studying language variation and sound change.
• Language Learning: Mastering pronunciation in a new language.

Challenges & Misconceptions

A common misconception is that secondary articulation is a separate sound. In reality, it’s a modification of a primary sound. Distinguishing subtle secondary articulations requires careful listening and acoustic analysis.

FAQs

What is the difference between primary and secondary articulation?

Primary articulation is the main obstruction in the vocal tract. Secondary articulation is an additional, simultaneous modification of that primary sound.

Are secondary articulations common?

Yes, they are common across many languages, especially in vowel and consonant modifications like palatalization and labialization.